Marshal


Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated offices, such as in military rank and civilian law enforcement.
In most countries, the rank of Marshal is the highest Army rank.

Etymology

Marshal is an ancient loanword from Old French mareschal, which in turn is borrowed from Old Frankish *marskalk "stable boy, keeper, servant", attested by Medieval Latin mariscalcus from a Proto-Germanic *maraχskalkaz being still evident in Middle Dutch maerscalc, marscal, and in modern Dutch maarschalk.
It is cognate with Old High German mar-scalc "id.", modern German Marschall.
It originally and literally meant "horse servant", a compound of *marha- "horse" and *skalk- "servant" and outdated German Schalk, meaning "high-ranking servant". This "horse servant" origin is retained in the current French name for farrier: maréchal-ferrant.
The late Roman and Byzantine title of comes stabuli is similar in meaning, which became the Old French conestable and modern connétable, and, borrowed from the Old French, the English word constable. Finally, in Byzantium, a marshal with elevated authority, notably a borderlands military command, was also known as an exarch.

Military

In many countries, the rank of marshal, cf. field marshal, is the highest army rank, outranking other general officers. The equivalent navy rank is often admiral of the fleet or grand admiral.
Marshals are typically, but not exclusively, appointed only in wartime. In many countries, especially in Europe, the special symbol of a marshal is a baton, and their insignia often incorporate batons.
In some countries, the term "marshal" is used instead of "general" in the higher air force ranks. The four highest Royal Air Force ranks are marshal of the Royal Air Force, air chief marshal, air marshal and air vice marshal. The five-star rank of marshal of the Air Force is used by some Commonwealth and Middle Eastern air forces.
In the French Army and most National Armies modelled on the French system, maréchal des logis is a cavalry term equivalent to sergeant.
Some historical rulers have used special "marshal" titles to reward certain subjects. Though not strictly military ranks, these honorary titles have been exclusively bestowed upon successful military leaders, such as the famous grand marshal of Ayacucho Antonio José de Sucre. Most famous are the Marshals of France, not least under Napoléon I. Another such title was that of Reichsmarschall, bestowed upon Hermann Göring by Adolf Hitler, although it was never a regular title since it had been invented for Göring, who was the only titleholder in history. In England during the First Barons' War the title Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church was bestowed upon Robert Fitzwalter by election.
Both the Soviet Union and Russia have army general as well as "marshal" in their rank system.

Marshal ranks by country

The following articles discuss the rank of marshal as used by specific countries:
These ranks are considered the equivalent to a marshal:
The name is also applied to the leader of military police organizations.
  • Provost marshal – a term used in many countries
  • Provost Marshal General – head of the military police in the United States

    Ceremonial and protocol

Usually in monarchies, one or several of the senior dignitaries bear the title of Marshal or a compound such as Court Marshal or more rarely Grand Marshal.
The function of the Marshal of the Court varies according to national tradition, but frequently he is the chief of staff of the monarch's household. Often the position also includes the honorary privilege as chief of the protocol of formally announcing the arrival of VIP guests at audiences, state dinners and conferences on the monarch's premises. This office was often made hereditary in the high nobility, e.g. the English Earl Marshal and the Scots Earl Marischal.

Civilian

The term is also used in more ordinary contexts, such as modern pageantry; for example, the grand marshal of a parade is often an honored guest or dignitary.
In the United States, many colleges and universities have marshals. In some cases, there is a single "faculty marshal," appointed to the post on a more or less permanent basis. In other cases, there are one or several faculty marshals, and often one or several student marshals appointed for a single occasion. In all cases, the post is one of honor given to a senior faculty member or outstanding student, and the functions are generally limited to leading processions or parts of processions during commencement exercises, academic convocations, encaenia and similar events. These marshals often carry maces, staffs or wands of office.
A chief usher at a large wedding is sometimes called a wedding marshal. In addition to coordinating other ushers in attending guests, the wedding marshal may be a messenger between parties to signal the impending start of the service or communicate delays. In a church wedding, particularly a nuptial mass, these functions may be assumed by a verger. The wedding marshal is a position of honor and trust, often filled by a close friend or relative.

Political

Dignitaries of Poland

Apart from its military uses, the Polish word marszałek also refers to certain political offices:
  • Marszałek Sejmu and Marszałek Senatu: the respective speakers of the lower house and upper house of Poland's parliament, usually nominated by the governing party or coalition;
  • Marszałek Województwa : since 1999, the leader of the executive of a voivodeship, elected by the regional assembly, and co-existing with the government-appointed voivode.

    Demonstration marshal

Demonstration marshals, also called stewards, are used by the organizers of large or controversial demonstrations, rallies and protests, to help ensure the safety of the participants. They are especially important for preventing infiltration by agents provocateurs.

Sports

In motorsports, such as auto racing, motorcycle racing, and rallying, the track marshals wave the racing flags and assist crashed or broken-down vehicles and their drivers, while pit marshals watch over the procedures in the pits, and fire marshals assist in the event of a fire on the track or in the pit. The FIA provides general rules and recommendations on marshalling. In the 1977 South African Grand Prix, 1977 Japanese Grand Prix, 2000 Italian Grand Prix, 2001 Australian Grand Prix, and 2013 Canadian Grand Prix, track marshals were victims of fatal accidents.
In some organized competitions, such as the "Tough Guy" endurance competition, officials seeing to the observance of the rules are styled marshals. In road running and cycling races, in particular, course marshals enforce rules of competition and assist runners as needed.

Games

The marshal is the highest playing piece in the board game Stratego.

Law enforcement

The word Maréchaussée derives from the French word Maréchal, which was the second highest military rank in feudal France after Connétable, the military Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Armed Forces until 1627, when the rank of Constable was abolished. The Constable and the Marshals also had jurisdictional powers, at first only over members of the armed forces. The additional conferring of police powers led to the creation of the "Corps of the Maréchaussée" and to an Ancien Régime Court of Justice called the Tribunal of the Constable and the Marshals of France, which judged military personnel and civilians alike in cases of petty violations of the law.
The term Maréchaussée was also used for the Continental Army's military police during the American Revolution.
In the present-day Netherlands, the Koninklijke Marechaussee is a national military police force with civilian powers, similar to the French Gendarmerie nationale.

By country

Canada

In early 2025, the Government of Saskatchewan created the Saskatchewan Marshals Service. The provincial law enforcement agency is expected to focus on serious crime and will be fully operational in the fall of 2025.